FATHER SERGIUS: «LOVE EVERY BEING...»

...In spring some hunters came to father Sergius to be baptized, and a few monks decided to live near his church. He did not object, but set a strict rule: no gifts or donations. Those days one could hardly suppose to choose such existence. Many monks and priests lived only with the help of donations, having no idea about a different way to live. But Sergius insisted on that, setting his own good example: he earned a living by making leather shoes and sandals, wooden dishes, and even taught boys to read. He was paid by flour and bread, which he shared it with others...

The large dinner table with long benches brethren placed on the sunny side of the church. They gathered at the table once a day to eat the common bread, that Sergius also baked himself, and to talk about God. The service in the church was held every day, and the brethren did not understand, when Sergius slept...

Those days’ people distinguished between those who were baptized and those who were not. People tried to avoid the anabaptized being afraid of getting from anabaptized some damage, troubles or «the evil eye» put on them. They even were reluctant to buy anything from them. And if an anabaptized person tried to sell some bread, or honey, or berries (things you had to eat), the baptized bought nothing: they thought all those goods to be inhabited by demons. An anabaptized person had to give the goods to boyar buyers, and the latter invited the priests to cast demons out of the goods. The monks also avoided a non-Christian person, plus they could hit him with a stick while meeting such a person on their way. Witches and sources got caught were burned. Besides, it was local residents who did that, although they were given strict instructions to judge them first...

Sergius' attitude to people was different. He paid attention to anyone who visited him just out of curiosity or to ask for some advice. Once a brother asked Sergius, why he treated everyone equally and did not distinguish between those who were baptized and who were not. And Sergius called him to walk together.

They walked in silence almost all day long and finally reached a hill with a wonderful view. The spacious landscape seemed unnaturally bright and amazingly beautiful in the sunset light...

«Look at this, – Sergius asked the brother. – What can you see». – «I can see beauty», replied the brother.

In the distance there was a settlement, and also some fields of farmers, and gardeners, grazing cows, sheep and horses. Some boys with dogs were running around them holding twigs...

«And why can you see them», asked Sergius.

«Because the sun is shining», replied the brother with a bit of little irritation.

With his hands on the brother's head Sergius said: «Close your eyes».

The brother closed his eyes, and Sergius began to pray. Having prayed he took his hands off the brother's head and said: «Open your eyes. What can you see now?»

The brother's eyes were wide open and his face was filled with delight, astonishment and horror at the same time... He could see the same place, but the air was filled with fluttering translucent Paradise birds, slowly flying winged angels, and the unearthly blue Light was pouring over the valley together with the sunlight... And the choir of the bird's voices was blending with the singing of the angels...

He was shocked; shiver and shudder were running all over his body... And he began to cry unable to say a word...

Sergius looked at the brother, realizing that he saw the world the same as he sees it, and continued: «You see the sun shines for all! And God loves everyone. So, I want to love everyone, and I wish you did the same – love every being».

The brother had heard this before. But now the last experience of his life near Sergius united in his soul with this new impression. And astonished he understood that strange «Love every being...» as absolutely real thing; and his heart and his mind were filled with warmth... He’d never ask again why father Sergius welcomed everyone and talked to everybody.



After Mikhail Makhov

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